Drop dialog controls

Abstract

A drop dialog window may be presented graphically coupled with a user interface control used to activate the drop dialog window. The drop dialog window may present one or more interactive controls allowing a user to select or enter data. The interactive controls may be both bound and unbound. The drop dialog window may allow multiple interactive controls to be activated to select or update more than one control per instantiation of the drop dialog window. The drop dialog window may be persistent until explicitly dismissed or until focus is removed from the drop dialog window. Acceptance of default values without presenting the drop dialog window may be accomplished by an alternate selection of the user interface control.

1 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions implementing a method comprising:
 receiving a selection via a user interface control;   painting a user interface window so that the user interface window is graphically coupled to the user interface control;   attaching at least one interactive control to the user interface window;   receiving data via the user interface window; and   closing the user interface window when an explicit close function is selected.   
   
   
       2 . The computer-readable-medium of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface control is a push button. 
   
   
       3 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein receiving a selection from a user interface control comprises receiving an alternate selection from the user interface control that causes a pre-determined data to be entered and the user interface window is not painted. 
   
   
       4 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface window remains while focus is in the user interface window. 
   
   
       5 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein painting a user interface window comprises painting a user interface window with a control area, a content area, and a button area. 
   
   
       6 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , further comprising attaching on the user interface window one of a dismiss and accept button comprising the explicit close function. 
   
   
       7 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the explicit close function is represented by a non-textual image. 
   
   
       8 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein attaching at least one interactive control to the user interface window comprises attaching only bounded data containers to the user interface window. 
   
   
       9 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , further comprising painting a user interface window further comprises activating code associated with the user interface control for painting the user interface window. 
   
   
       10 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , further comprising attaching a second interactive control to the at least one interactive control. 
   
   
       11 . A method of presenting a user interface interaction comprising:
 opening a drop dialog window coupled to a user interface element;   presenting at least one control in the drop dialog window; and   dismissing the drop dialog window when one of an explicit close function is selected and when focus is removed from the drop dialog window.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving a signal for triggering the opening of the drop dialog window. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein opening the drop dialog window comprises opening the drop dialog window by activating code in the user interface element. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein presenting at least one control comprises presenting only bounded controls in the drop dialog window. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein opening the drop dialog window comprises painting a control area, a content area, and a button area, wherein the content area contains the bounded controls and the button area contains the explicit close function. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the explicit close function is one of an accept button and a cancel button. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising opening a second drop dialog window coupled to the drop dialog window responsive to input from the drop dialog window. 
   
   
       18 . A computer for use with a data processing program comprising:
 a processor;   a display coupled to the processor; and   a memory coupled to the processor containing executable modules comprising:
 a control module that receives an activation signal from a user interface control; 
 a drop dialog module that paints a drop dialog window graphically attached to the user interface control responsive to the activation signal; 
 a drop dialog control module that receives user input and is attached to the drop dialog window; and 
 a drop dialog exit module that closes the drop dialog window when activated. 
   
   
   
       19 . The computer of  claim 18 , further comprising a communication module that receives an operating system signal indicating focus has left the drop dialog window and activates the drop dialog exit module. 
   
   
       20 . The computer of  claim 18 , wherein the drop dialog module enters predetermined data instead painting the drop dialog window responsive to an alternate activation signal received at the control module.